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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to worry about the slippery slope of taking away the universal benefit of winter fuel allowance

52 replies

verasomerset · 30/12/2014 18:59

So now ids will be taking away this formally universal benefit to some people in warmer countries.

This strikes me as very unfair as it is a universal benefit that is not means tesed. The people living is Spain will have paid all their tax and stamp just like everyone else. Also it is sometimes the poorest people that have moved to Spain due to high UK costs and releasing equity in their UK home, these people may need it for air con.

OP posts:
Stealthpolarbear · 30/12/2014 19:00

Seriously???

LuisSuarezTeeth · 30/12/2014 19:03

Hilarious OP. Hmm

Patrickstarxx · 30/12/2014 19:03

Personally I think only those living in Britain should get the winter payment.

It's a bit of a tough subject to discuss. Take my elderly neighbour for instance. She spends all hers on her grandkids and will then sit and freeze in her home.

My dps gran who is a millionaire gets it and she doesn't need it yet a family down the street on benefits get naff all.

The whole thing is daft.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 30/12/2014 19:05

Welcome to MN, interesting first post etc, etc

Theoretician · 30/12/2014 19:05

I think it should be abolished altogether. If you think pensioners are incapable of planning for higher heating bills in winter, then divide the state pension so that there is an extra payment in winter.

FlipFlippingFlippers · 30/12/2014 19:05
MaryWestmacott · 30/12/2014 19:06

Bollocks, the winter fuel allowance is a relatively new benefit, brought in when Gordon brown was chancellor to offset the backlash from putting vat on fuel, the payment was supposed to stop old voters people not being able to hear their homes due to the increased costs this extra tax caused. People living in Spain are not paying vat on their fuel, so why would they need a hand out to ease the burden of the tax? It should never have been given to non-uk resident pensioners in the first place.

Fabulous46 · 30/12/2014 19:08

Grabs Wine. This will be interesting....

Viviennemary · 30/12/2014 19:08

I think it should be taken away from people in warm country as why would they need winter fuel allowance. I also wouldn't object to the raising of the qualifying age to 70. But it shouldn't be means tested. I also agree only people in the UK should get this benefit.

Theoretician · 30/12/2014 19:08

Winter fuel allowance when introduced went to every state pensioner, even if they were a millionaire living on the equator, so really it was just a gimmicky way of increasing the state pension by a fixed amount.

LIZS · 30/12/2014 19:09

Are you being ironic? Their choice to go to the sun and pay lower taxes , then choose to tax advantage of benefits and nhs as and when it suits. Save the money for those who need it.

5EllipticGoldRings · 30/12/2014 19:09

Don't forget pensioners also get a £10 Christmas bonus - can't imagine what they spend it all on Hmm

TooHasty · 30/12/2014 19:09

But the cold weather payment is for, you know, cold weather.

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 30/12/2014 19:10

Struggling to take this seriously

expatinscotland · 30/12/2014 19:12

Yawn. Are you for real?

meltedmonterayjack · 30/12/2014 19:13

Is this a wind up?

FrogIsATwatInASantaHat · 30/12/2014 19:14

I've lived in southern spain in the winter. It was fucking freezing.

Original poster
verasomerset · 30/12/2014 19:14

This is serious
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2856280/An-end-madness-winter-fuel-cash-expats-Costa-del-Sol-bill-reaches-130million-law-changed.html

Isn't my first post, I just couldn't log in to my last account. As you can see on the daily mail most liked comments most people think this is unfair.

What I'm tallking about is the slippery slope of means testing, soon it will be only avalible for pensioners that don't have x or y. That's the worry

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 30/12/2014 19:14

Rich pensioners living in this country shouldn't get it.
All pensioners who have moved abroad shouldn't get it.

They can keep bleating that they paid in, but it's not a bloody savings account to withdraw from once you get old. Every single one of them has taken out since they were born, just like the rest of us.

Titsalinabumsquash · 30/12/2014 19:14

I think they need to means test it! Wealthy pensioners don't need it, families with disabilities that are running medical devices needing electric day and night need it, vulnerable people that can't risk getting cold need it.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 30/12/2014 19:15

Have we been invaded? Hmm

Dawndonnaagain · 30/12/2014 19:15

Oh do bugger off!

Finola1step · 30/12/2014 19:15

I call wind up!

SugarPlumTree · 30/12/2014 19:16

That's most kind of you to worry about my FIL in Spain but he is 88 and his circulation is quite shit so he doesn't need air con.

I was totally gobsmacked when I found he was able to claim and a bit Hmm that he actually did.

expatinscotland · 30/12/2014 19:18

Link it to Pension Tax Credit. Job done. Of course, DM readers don't think it's fair, look at their demographic.

So they paid tax? Diddums, we all do. It's not a savings account, it pays for vital infrastructure that allows most of us to go about our business in peace and great ease. Excepting perhaps a few multi-millionnaires, no one pays in as much as they take out.

World's smallest violin.

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